Browsing by Author "Ferreira, Carla"
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- Agricultural land degradation in Portugal and GreecePublication . Ferreira, Carla; Duarte, A.C.; Boulet, Anne K.; Veiga, Adélcia; Maneas, Giorgos; Kalantari, ZahraAgricultural land degradation is a global problem affecting food production and other ecosystem services worldwide such as water regulation. It is driven by unsustainable land use and management practices (e.g. intensive tillage, overuse of agrochemicals) and can be aggravated by future climate change. Land degradation is particularly problematic in arid and semi-arid areas of southern Europe, and distinct soil degradation processes impair agricultural areas in Portugal and Greece. This chapter aims to improve understanding of various degradation processes affecting agricultural land, including soil erosion, compaction, contamination, and salinity and sodicity. It summarises the scientific literature on the current status of these degradation processes in agricultural areas of Portugal and Greece and their main causes and consequences. Moreover, it provides examples of best management practices implemented to mitigate agricultural land degradation. Some degradation processes are relatively well documented (e.g. erosion), while knowledge of the spatial extent of others such as soil compaction is still limited. A better understanding of soil degradation processes and of the counter-impacts of improved agricultural management practices is critical to support decision-making and ensure long-term fertility and productivity, thereby maintaining the sustainability of agriculture.
- Hydrological challenges in urban areasPublication . Ferreira, Carla; Duarte, A.C.; Kašanin-Grubin, Milica; Kapovic Solomun, Marijana; Kalantari, ZahraUrbanization alters hydrological processes and is often associated with increasing flood risks, which threaten human wellbeing and social and economic development. The conventional paradigm of flood protection relying on structural measures based on hard engineering solutions (e.g., dams, piped systems) has proven insufficient to mitigate floods. Sustainable water management, including solutions to enhance natural processes within urban areas, is a promising approach to enhance flood resilience and address the multiple sustainability challenges faced by cities. However, implementation of solutions based on mimicking natural processes has been slow. Mainstreaming of urban sustainable flood management is inhibited by governance aspects (e.g., limited collaborative governance), and knowledge gaps on effectiveness compared with conventional engineering approaches. The increasing flood hazards driven by growing urban populations and climate change projections of increasing frequency and intensity of large precipitation events demand improvements in spatial planning. This also provides opportunities for sustainable water management mainstreaming in order to complement the relatively limited drainage capacity of conventional systems.
- Hydrological signatures based on event runoff coefficients in rural catchments of the Iberian PeninsulaPublication . Taguas, Encarnación V.; Nadal-Romero, Estela; Ayuso, José L.; Casali, Javier; Cid, Patricio; Dafonte, Jorge; Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Giménez, Rafael; Giráldez, Juan V.; Gómez-Macpherson, Helena; Gómez, José A.; González-Hidalgo, J. Carlos; Lana-Renault, Noemí; Lucía, Ana; Mateos, Luciano; Pérez, Rafael; Rodríguez-Blanco, M.L.; Schnabel, Susanne; Serrano-Muela, M. Pilar; Taboada-Castro, M. Mercedes; Taboada-Castro, M. Teresa; Zabaleta, AneHydrological signatures are indices that help to describe the behavior of catchments. These indices can also be used to transfer information from gauged to ungauged catchments. In this study, different approaches were evaluated to determine volumetric runoff coefficients in 18 small/medium experimental gauged catchments of the Iberian Peninsula and to fit runoff calculations based on precipitation data for gauged and ungauged catchments. Using data derived from 1962 events, rainfall-runoff relationships were characterized and compared in order to evaluate the various hydrological response patterns. Volumetric runoff coefficients and cumulative runoff and precipitation ratios of the events that generated runoff (Rcum) minimized the root mean square error. A linear fit for the estimation of Rcum in ungauged catchments was based on mean annual precipitation, rates of infiltration, the fraction of forest-land use, and the catchment channel length. Despite high catchment heterogeneity, Rcum resulted in a suitable parameter to evaluate hydrological variability in rural gauged and ungauged catchments. In 50% of the catchments, the precipitation accounted for less than 50% of the runoff variation. Annual precipitation, antecedent rainfall, and base flow did not have a high significance in rainfall-runoff relationships, which illustrates the heterogeneity of hydrological responses. Our results highlight the need for signature characterizations of small/medium rural catchments because they are the sources of runoff and sediment discharge into rivers, and it is more economical and efficient to take action to mitigate runoff in rural locations.
- Modelação da topografia do terreno e simulação da erosão hídrica numa pequena bacia hidrográfica com uso agro-florestalPublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoNa simulação dos impactes das atividades agrícolas na poluição difusa à escala da bacia hidrográfica, é importante uma adequada configuração topográfica do terreno e a compreensão do seu comportamento hidrológico. Neste estudo foi utilizado o módulo FlowNet Generator, componente do modelo AnnAGNPS (Annualized Agriculture Nonpoint Source), para avaliação da influência da resolução vertical do Modelo Digital do Terreno (MDT) na configuração topográfica e hidrológica, e no processo de erosão hídrica do solo, de uma pequena bacia agro-florestal (190 ha) localizada no concelho de Idanha-a-Nova. Foi realizado um levantamento georeferenciado da rede de drenagem superficial da bacia, que foi depois comparada com os resultados das redes simuladas pelo módulo FlowNet Generator para dois MDT com resoluções verticais de 1m e 5m. Verificou-se que o MDT com resolução vertical de 5m não conduziu a resultados satisfatórios, dado que a rede de drenagem natural simulada se afastava significativamente da observada no campo. Por outro lado, a rede de drenagem natural gerada com o MDT de resolução de 1m foi bastante próxima da rede observada. A influência da diferente configuração topográfica da bacia hidrográfica na simulação do processo de erosão hídrica do solo, com o modelo RUSLE, traduziu-se numa diferença significativa considerando os valores de 5.85 e 4.17 ton/ha.ano, respectivamente para o MDT com 1m e 5m de resolução vertical.
- Relationship of weather types on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield in the Western Mediterranean BasinPublication . Peña-Angulo, D.; Nadal-Romero, Estela; González-Hidalgo, J. Carlos; Albaladejo, J.; Andreu, V.; Barhi, H.; Bernal, S.; Biddoccu, M.; Bienes, R.; Campo, J.; Campo-Bescós, M.A.; Duarte, A.C.; Cantón, Y.; Casali, Javier; Castillo, V.; Cavallo, E.; Cerdà, A.; Cid, Patricio; Cortesi, Noemi; Desir, G.; Díaz-Pereira, E.; Espigares, T.; Estrany, J.; Farguell, J.; Fernández-Raga, M.; Ferreira, Carla; Ferro, V.; Gallart, Francesc; Giménez, Rafael; Gimeno, E.; Gómez, José A.; Gómez-Gutiérrez, A.; Gómez-Macpherson, Helena; González-Pelayo, O.; Kairis, O.; Karatzas, G.P.; Keesstra, S.; Klotz, Sébastien; Kosmas, C.; Lana-Renault, Noemí; Lasanta, T.; Latron, J.; Lázaro, R.; Le Bissonnais, Y.; Le Bouteiller, Caroline; Licciardello, F.; López-Tarazón, J.A.; Lucía, Ana; Marín-Moreno, V.M.; Marín, C.; Marqués, M.J.; Martínez-Fernández, J.; Martínez-Mena, M.; Mateos, Luciano; Mathys, Nicole; Merino-Martín, L.; Moreno de las Heras, M.; Moustakas, N.; Nicolau, J.M.; Pampalone, V.; Raclot, D.; Rodríguez-Blanco, M.L.; Rodrigo-Comino, J.; Romero-Díaz, A.; Ruiz-Sinoga, J.D.; Rubio, J.L.; Schnabel, Susanne; Senciales-González, J.M.; Solé-Benet, A.; Taguas, Encarnación V.; Taboada-Castro, M. Teresa; Taboada-Castro, M. Mercedes; Todisco, F.; Úbeda, X.; Varouchakis, E.A.; Wittenberg, L.; Zabaleta, A.; Zorn, M.Rainfall is the key factor to understand soil erosion processes, mechanisms, and rates. Most research was conducted to determine rainfall characteristics and their relationship with soil erosion (erosivity) but there is little information about how atmospheric patterns control soil losses, and this is important to enable sustainable environmental planning and risk prevention. We investigated the temporal and spatial variability of the relationships of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield with atmospheric patterns (weather types, WTs) in the western Mediterranean basin. For this purpose, we analyzed a large database of rainfall events collected between 1985 and 2015 in 46 experimental plots and catchments with the aim to: (i) evaluate seasonal differences in the contribution of rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield produced by the WTs; and (ii) to analyze the seasonal efficiency of the different WTs (relation frequency and magnitude) related to rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield. The results indicate two different temporal patterns: the first weather type exhibits (during the cold period: autumn and winter) westerly flows that produce the highest rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield values throughout the territory; the second weather type exhibits easterlyflowsthatpredominateduringthewarmperiod(springandsummer)anditislocatedonthe MediterraneancoastoftheIberianPeninsula. However,thecyclonicsituationspresenthighfrequency throughout the whole year with a large influence extended around the western Mediterranean basin. Contrary, the anticyclonic situations, despite of its high frequency, do not contribute significantly to thetotalrainfall,runoff,andsediment(showingthelowestefficiency)becauseofatmosphericstability that currently characterize this atmospheric pattern. Our approach helps to better understand the relationship of WTs on the seasonal and spatial variability of rainfall, runoff and sediment yield with a regional scale based on the large dataset and number of soil erosion experimental stations.
- Spatial variability of the relationships of runoff and sediment yield with weather types throughout the Mediterranean basinPublication . Peña-Angulo, D.; Nadal-Romero, Estela; González-Hidalgo, J. Carlos; Albaladejo, J.; Andreu, V.; Bagarello, V.; Barhi, H.; Batalla, R.J.; Bernal, S.; Bienes, R.; Campo, J.; Campo-Bescós, M.A.; Duarte, A.C.; Cantón, Y.; Casali, Javier; Castillo, V.; Cerdà, A.; Cheggour, A.; Cid, Patricio; Cortesi, N.; Desir, G.; Díaz-Pereira, E.; Espigares, T.; Estrany, J.; Fernández-Raga, M.; Ferreira, Carla; Ferro, V.; Gallart, Francesc; Giménez, Rafael; Gimeno, E.; Gómez, José A.; Gómez-Gutiérrez, A.; Gómez-Macpherson, Helena; González-Pelayo, O.; Hueso-González, P.; Kairis, O.; Karatzas, G.P.; Klotz, Sébastien; Kosmas, C.; Lana-Renault, Noemí; Lasanta, T.; Latron, J.; Lázaro, R.; Le Bissonnais, Y.; Le Bouteiller, Caroline; Licciardello, F.; López-Tarazón, J.A.; Lucía, Ana; Marín, C.; Marqués, M.J.; Martínez-Fernández, J.; Martínez-Mena, M.; Martínez-Murillo, J.F.; Mateos, Luciano; Mathys, Nicole; Merino-Martín, L.; Moreno de las Heras, M.; Moustakas, N.; Nicolau, J.M.; Novara, A.; Pampalone, V.; Raclot, D.; Rodríguez-Blanco, M.L.; Rodrigo-Comino, J.; Romero-Díaz, A.; Roose, E.; Rubio, J.L.; Ruiz-Sinoga, J.D.; Schnabel, Susanne; Senciales-González, J.M.; Simonneaux, V.; Solé-Benet, A.; Taguas, Encarnación V.; Taboada-Castro, M. Mercedes; Taboada-Castro, M. Teresa; Todisco, F.; Úbeda, X.; Varouchakis, E.A.; Vericat, D.; Wittenberg, L.; Zabaleta, A.; Zorn, M.Soil degradation by water is a serious environmental problem worldwide, with specific climatic factors being the major causes. We investigated the relationships between synoptic atmospheric patterns (i.e. weather types, WTs) and runoff, erosion and sediment yield throughout the Mediterranean basin by analyzing a large database of natural rainfall events at 68 research sites in 9 countries. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify spatial relationships of the different WTs including three hydro-sedimentary variables: rainfall, runoff, and sediment yield (SY, used to refer to both soil erosion measured at plot scale and sediment yield registered at catchment scale). The results indicated 4 spatial classes of rainfall and runoff: (a) northern sites dependent on North (N) and North West (NW) flows; (b) eastern sites dependent on E and NE flows; (c) southern sites dependent on S and SE flows; and, finally, (d) western sites dependent on W and SW flows. Conversely, three spatial classes are identified for SY characterized by: (a) N and NE flows in northern sites (b) E flows in eastern sites, and (c) Wand SW flows in western sites. Most of the rainfall, runoff and SY occurred during a small number of daily events, and just a few WTs accounted for large percentages of the total. Our results confirm that characterization by WT improves understanding of the general conditions under which runoff and SY occur, and provides useful information for understanding the spatial variability of runoff, and SY throughout the Mediterranean basin. The approach used here could be useful to aid of the design of regional water management and soil conservation measures.
- Sustainable water management in horticulture: Problems, premises, and promisesPublication . Ferreira, Carla; Soares, Pedro R.; Guilherme, Rosa; Vitali, Giuliano; Boulet, Anne; Harrison, Matthew Tom; Malamiri, Hamid; Duarte, A.C.; Kalantari, Zahra; Ferreira, António DinisWater is crucial for enduring horticultural productivity, but high water-use requirements and declining water supplies with the changing climate challenge economic viability, environmental sustainability, and social justice. While the scholarly literature pertaining to water management in horticulture abounds, knowledge of practices and technologies that optimize water use is scarce. Here, we review the scientific literature relating to water requirements for horticulture crops, impacts on water resources, and opportunities for improving water- and transpiration-use efficiency. We find that water requirements of horticultural crops vary widely, depending on crop type, development stage, and agroecological region, but investigations hitherto have primarily been superficial. Expansion of the horticulture sector has depleted and polluted water resources via overextraction and agrochemical contamination, but the extent and significance of such issues are not well quantified. We contend that innovative management practices and irrigation technologies can improve tactical water management and mitigate environmental impacts. Nature-based solutions in horticulture—mulching, organic amendments, hydrogels, and the like—alleviate irrigation needs, but information relating to their effectiveness across production systems and agroecological regions is limited. Novel and recycled water sources (e.g., treated wastewater, desalination) would seem promising avenues for reducing dependence on natural water resources, but such sources have detrimental environmental and human health trade-offs if not well managed. Irrigation practices including partial root-zone drying and regulated deficit irrigation evoke remarkable improvements in water use efficiency, but require significant experience for efficient implementation. More advanced applications, including IoT and AI (e.g., sensors, big data, data analytics, digital twins), have demonstrable potential in supporting smart irrigation (focused on scheduling) and precision irrigation (improving spatial distribution). While adoption of technologies and practices that improve sustainability is increasing, their application within the horticultural industry as a whole remains in its infancy. Further research, development, and extension is called for to enable successful adaptation to climate change, sustainably intensify food security, and align with other Sustainable Development Goals.
- Topography and hydrology modeling and influence on soil erosion simulation, at small basin scalePublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoDiffuse pollution from agricultural activities is a major environmental problem. The extent of the impacts is driven, e.g., by local topography due to the influence on hydrological processes. This study aims to investigate the use of different scale topographic data in assessing runoff-erosion processes. The TopAGNPS module, a component of the AnnAGNPS model (Annualized Agriculture Nonpoint Source), was used to assess the impact of the vertical resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) on the topographic and hydrological configuration of a basin, and on the simulation of soil erosion. The study focuses on a small agro-forestry basin (190 ha) located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, Portugal. A georeferenced survey of the basin's surface drainage network was carried out and then compared with the results of the simulated drainage networks generated by the TopAGNPS module using two DEMs with vertical resolutions of 1m and 5m. The results show that the DEM with a vertical resolution of 5m did not generate a reliable drainage network, given the relevant differences between the modelled network and the field observations. On the other hand, the drainage network generated with the DEM of 1m resolution was very similar to the observed drainage network. The use of distinct topographic configurations modelled based on different vertical resolution DEMs on the estimation of soil erosion by water using the RUSLE model (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation), resulted in significant differences considering the values of 5.85 and 4.17 ton/ha.year for the DEM with 1m and 5m vertical resolution, respectively. Considering that soil erosion by water and other processes, such as the transport of pollutants, are distributed processes, it is of great relevance to consider good topographic and hydrologic configurations to achieve more reliable simulations and better support decision-making.
- Topography and hydrology modeling and influence on soil erosion simulation, at small basin scalePublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoDiffuse pollution from agricultural activities is a major environmental problem. The extent of the impacts is driven, e.g., by local topography due to the influence on hydrological processes. This study aims to investigate the use of dif-ferent scale topographic data in assessing runoff-erosion processes. The TopAG-NPS module, a component of the AnnAGNPS model (Annualized Agriculture Nonpoint Source), was used to assess the impact of the vertical resolution of the Digital Elevation Model (DEM) on the topographic and hydrological configura-tion of a basin, and on the simulation of soil erosion. The study focuses on a small agro-forestry basin (190 ha) located in the municipality of Idanha-a-Nova, Portu-gal. A georeferenced survey of the basin’s surface drainage network was carried out and then compared with the results of the simulated drainage networks gener-ated by the TopAGNPS module using two DEMs with vertical resolutions of 1 m and 5 m. The DEM with a 5 m vertical resolution produced unsatisfactory results, as evidenced by significant discrepancies between the simulated and observed nat-ural drainage networks. On the other hand, the drainage network generated with the DEM of 1 m resolution was very similar to the observed drainage network. The use of distinct topographic configurations modeled based on different vertical resolution DEMs on the estimation of soil erosion by water using the RUSLE model (Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation), resulted in significant differences considering the values of 5.85 and 4.17 ton/ha.year for the DEM with 1 m and 5 m vertical resolution, respectively. Considering that soil erosion by water and other processes, such as the transport of pollutants, are distributed processes, it is of great relevance to consider good topographic and hydrologic configurations to achieve more reliable simulations and better support decision-making.
- Use of simulation models to aid soil and water conservation actions for sustainable agro-forested systemsPublication . Duarte, A.C.; Ferreira, Carla; Vitali, GiulianoAdequate planning of soil and water conservation requires understanding and prediction of the interactions between soil, climate and management scenarios. These interactions have been investigated over the last decades by means of modelling tools. Some of the most widely used models, namely KINEROS, WEPP, SWAT, and AnnAGNPS have been compared in terms of interfaces, processes, data and parameter requirements, to describe their application domain. Some applicative cases are also added to evidence the importance of rainfall regimes, processes scale, land typologies and management for soil and water conservation modelling, to support the needs of farmers, researchers, extension services and land planners. In general, there is evidence of a large number of parameters to satisfy common users' perception of reliability on simulation results, while they are all good teaching and research tools.